Tackling global climate change with indoor climate change
31 August, 2012University of Sydney researchers will be looking for ways to slash one of the world’s biggest single sources of energy consumption - the heating and cooling of buildings - at a state-of-the-art new laboratory.
Are we planning away Victoria’s renewable energy future?
30 August, 2012Australia’s clean energy goals could be thwarted by recent amendments to the Victorian Planning Framework in 2011 for wind farm developments, a study by the University of Melbourne Law School has found.
Upskilling engineers with national academic alliance
30 August, 2012 | Supplied by: Clipsal - by Schneider ElectricSchneider Electric has formalised an academic alliance with Queensland’s largest trade and technician training TAFE institute, SkillsTech Australia - its sixth partnership with a tertiary education institution in Australia.
Australia and European Commission agree on pathway towards fully linking emissions trading systems
29 August, 2012The Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Hon Greg Combet MP, and the European Commissioner for Climate Action, Connie Hedegaard, announced yesterday that Australia and Europe will be linking their emissions trading systems.
Collaboration and competition key to commercialising cleantech
28 August, 2012 by Lauren DavisThe road to clean technology is not a smooth one. It requires the spending of time and money to get ideas off the ground, and then a change in attitude in order for other people to implement these ideas. The challenge of overcoming these issues was discussed at the opening panel session of GE Australia’s ‘At Work’ event, held in Sydney from 21-22 August.
Government welcomes GE’s cleantech challenge
28 August, 2012The Minister for Industry and Innovation, Greg Combet, has welcomed the announcement by GE, in collaboration with its venture capital partners, to provide $10 million to find, fund and bring to market the best ideas from Australia and New Zealand that will improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon pollution.
Pop-up sustainable city will showcase the future
23 August, 2012New Zealand’s first Sustainable City Showcase will feature the latest designs, products and technology that are making Kiwi companies world leaders in environmentally aware and sustainable business practice.
Queensland Government rejects drink container tax
23 August, 2012Queensland Government Environment Minister Andrew Powell has announced that the state has rejected the proposed national drink container deposit tax.
Data centre wins sustainability award
22 August, 2012The Melbourne Water Data Centre has been awarded the Victorian iAward for Sustainability and Green IT at the recent 2012 iAwards.
Institute to reach new heights in green buildings
22 August, 2012Some of the country’s leading green building experts are launching a new organisation dedicated to setting higher sustainability standards for the built environment - the Living Future Institute Australia.
Cloud-based energy monitoring platform receives merit accolade at 2012 National iAwards
15 August, 2012A state-of-the art sustainable energy monitoring and home automation system, developed for Lend Lease’s Convesso Concavo apartments, has won a merit award in the Sustainability and Green IT category at the 2012 National iAwards.
Was it sustainability gold for the London Olympics?
14 August, 2012 by Carolyn JacksonWhile our athletes strived for gold at the London Olympics 2012 (achieving seven gold medals, 16 silver and 12 bronze), the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) tried to achieve the ‘most sustainable Games ever’ and match the sustainability standard first set back in 2000 by Sydney.
Reducing life-cycle impacts of products
14 August, 2012 by Russ Martin, Director, MS2*These are interesting days for product stewardship. The days of strict extended producer responsibility (EPR) being forced by governments upon unsuspecting and entirely unwilling industries have waned. Recycling at end of life is no longer seen as the sole means of demonstrating product stewardship. Broader aspects of sustainability and their roles in reducing the life-cycle impacts of products across supply chains are recognised more than ever before.
Abrupt increase in CO2 uptake by the land biosphere
14 August, 2012Scientists have discovered an abrupt increase in the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the land biosphere (which comprises all of the planet’s plant and animal ecosystems) since 1988. Without this natural increase in uptake, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would probably have increased even more rapidly over the last two decades.
Sustainability champion for water
14 August, 2012 by Chris McIntire* | Supplied by: Xylem Water Solutions Australia LtdSustainability can be a hard idea to wrap your head around because it’s so broad. So here are two ways we want to think about it at Xylem: first, we have a global definition - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs; and second, we have a business definition - generating shareholder value by controlling risks and capitalising on opportunities associated with environmental and socioeconomic issues.
